2 Sluggo's Garage

[rmalkow2]

Drag Racing History

I took a long weekend trip down to visit my sister in Florida last weekend and on the way home I stopped at Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala Fl. I had been there once before over 30 years ago and a lot has changed. He now has two buildings with one being more general antique vehicles and many other collectables Don has saved over the years. The main building being filled with all manner of drag racing history.
Being someone who followed and remembers all the greats of drag racing from the 60's, 70's and 80's it is like being in some hallowed hall of history. Just totally amazing to walk from car to car and see the names of all the greats in addition to the many Swamp Rat cars that Don drove. Lots of good written descriptions telling the stories behind each car. If you like drag racing this is a must see place when you are down that way.

Worlds Fastest Lawn Mower

Totally original '39 Ford driven by the "Little Old Lady"

One of many beautiful Flathead Ford Engines on display.

Don's personal choice for cruise nights in Tampa.

Replica of Don's 2nd car which served as daily driver and racer.

 

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow, wow that's awesome.

Yet another for my bucket list..

Thank you for sharing..

Regards

 

[rmalkow2]

Garlits Pics Continued…..

1939 Ford with Chrysler Hemi engine.

This Midget racer is the first car that Don learned to wrench on as a teen.

Swamp Rat 1. Where the legend begins….

A couple nice Willys

 

[rmalkow2]

And a few more pics….

The first attempt to put a plastic body on a dragster making an early Funny Car. this Dodge Dart "roadster" ran over 200mph the first time out and NHRA promptly banned it from competition. One of many Garlits firsts.

Typical 50's era Model T hot rod and drag racer.

MoonEyes blown dragster sitting nicely between a MoonEyes salt racer and the Moonbeam sports car. Just beautiful.

Early dragster attempt made by Don and his brother. The chassis was made from "EMT" tubing, basically electrical conduit. It bent on their first runs and was promptly retired for safety reasons.

The legendary Jungle Jim Liberman funny car.

Early Connie Kalitta dragster. It would not run right for Connie so he had Don try it. Don worked a little tuning magic and test drove it faster than ever.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just awesome...

 

[rmalkow2]

And finally…

The historic Speed Sport Roadster.

Even more historic, TV Tommy Ivo's twin chevy engine dragster.

Hope you all enjoyed the teaser tour here. Definitely recommend you get there someday and see some crazy fast and innovative cars from a great era in drag racing.

 

[taumac]

The Garlits museum is really awesome place. You can really spend hours in the reading everything. He's getting older but it's not uncommon to see him walking around the place. This was the case when we all meet up for a car show there.

 

[rmalkow2]

Just awesome...

Thanks 1/2 Cup. I was constantly picking my jaw up off the floor every time I walked another 10 feet to the next car. Just an amazing collection. And there were a few Aussie examples represented as well from racing friends Don has made over the years.

 

[rmalkow2]

The Garlits museum is really awesome place. You can really spend hours in the reading everything. He's getting older but it's not uncommon to see him walking around the place. This was the case when we all meet up for a car show there.

Boy, I admit I was really hoping to see him out and about. Especially since his home and shop are right there as well. No such luck this time. I spent about 2 hours there and definitely could have doubled that to read and examine every detail. Maybe another time….

 

[ajohno]

Fantastic pictures.

 

[Grumblebum]

Awesome RM.

GB

 

[Bob Heine]

RM, it's an amazing place and it does bring back a lot of memories. A few of us Florida GJ guys got together in December 2015 at the museum for a car show and I took a few (125) pictures. I sometimes wondered why antique speed equipment was so hard to find. Then I visited Don Garlits' engine room at the museum.

 

[rmalkow2]

Wait!!! There's an engine room too! How did I miss that one. But I just did not have all day to study things this trip. Oh darn, I guess I'll just have to go back next year.
I tend to agree though on the shortage of vintage stuff. Old Don has quite a lot of it in his possession.
Thanks for the extra pics Bob.

 

[rmalkow2]

Like a hole in my head……

Yes I really need another project like a hole in the head but sometimes the projects pick you I guess. I'm always scanning CL for a good deal on one or more mental list items I seem to have. Well up pops this almost complete early Ford Flathead V8 engine for sale cheap.
I have always wanted to learn about these by taking one apart but they are usually priced way out of my comfort zone. I had to drive 2 hours round trip to get this but, got to meet a cool old guy and talk cars, look at his current projects, tour both his garages etc. That's always a bonus to me to meet another person who likes the old stuff.
It's a pre-1949 model with the bell housing cast into the block. Other than that I have a lot to learn about these. So one of these days it will get its turn as an active project tear down and if possible a rebuild. It currently does not turn over so may be a loss but will still be fun to learn on and get some flatty experience.

Hey, I'm a Ford guy so I got to explore one more of Henry's accomplishments.

 

[taumac]

OH OH man. I can see that engine all cleaned up and running in your hot rod. This is a gift from the car gods to you. LOL

 

[rmalkow2]

OH OH man. I can see that engine all cleaned up and running in your hot rod. This is a gift from the car gods to you. LOL

I do appreciate that vote of confidence but that may be a lofty goal for me. Time will tell if I graduate from flathead 101 to anything more advanced. I do love the look of a flatty in a hot rod though.

 

[Bob Heine]

RM, my third or sixth car (keepers versus flippers) was a completely stock low mileage 1947 Ford tudor. It was only 17 years old at the time (like a 2000 model is today) and ran like a dream. A stock flattie runs so smooth it's like an electric motor. It makes its own unique sound as well.

 

[Vieux]

Excellently!!!

 

[xtremek]

Excuse me, but you owe my wife a new laptop. My drool shorted out her keyboard. Very cool

 

[rmalkow2]

Excuse me, but you owe my wife a new laptop. My drool shorted out her keyboard. Very cool

Haha,
Maybe you need one of these instead.

 

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow, a flat head project............ way to go...

 

[rmalkow2]

A little bench organizing today….

Temps in the 60's today so my original plan was to take advantage of the warm weather and replace brake pads on the rear of my truck. However some very stuck lug nuts had another plan. Basically to stay in place. Tried the impact wrench, tried the breaker bar, tried multiple doses of Kroil but they would not budge. So other jobs got done instead. Mostly did a lot of clean up and much needed organization.

Ever since GB got all his drill bits super organized I thought I could follow that good example. Well my solution is not nearly as elegant as his so far but its a step in the right direction.

Following in my dads example I've always had multiple home made and manufactured drill indexes scattered on bench tops and taking up too much usable space. Usually they are just blocks of wood like dad always made with holes drilled in them and various bits placed in the holes. Here's the previous state of things pictured with these random wood blocks full of bits. Not really arranged in any useful way so its not like they are labeled and sized to help.

I had a three drawer Craftsman tool box that was empty and could be put to use for drill bit storage. So I have only rough sorted them so far by visual size groups with my calibrated eyes. One drawer for large bits, one drawer for medium, one for misc wood bits and odd ball stuff and, the top section for smaller bits separated into storage trays again by visual size.

I think I will also dedicate an extra micrometer to this box so I can quickly check for proper size when looking for a bit. Maybe someday get to the next step with individual dividers more like GB did.

But for now I got rid of 5 old wood blocks to the fireplace and three smaller metal drill stands. In addition I was able to fill three portable index boxes so I always have one handy with drills already sized for general use.

I thank GB for the inspiration even though I didn't copy his design completely. It will be way more efficient to find the proper bit with them all located in one storage place. One of those jobs I should have done years ago but kept putting off.

 

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow, done well.

GB has certainly set the bench mark..

Regards

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks for the complements RM

That is a nice little craftsman box you have put to good use.

Cheers GB

 

[Grumblebum]

rmalkow, done well.

GB has certainly set the bench mark..

Regards

Thanks 1/2 Cup, I'm glad the idea has been helpful.

GB.

 

[metalhead140]

Love the pics of the Garlits museum, and look forward to seeing you tear into that flathead!

 

[rmalkow2]

When it rains it pours….

And all of a sudden it's raining Ford Flathead engines around me. I was not out looking for another purchase so soon but yet another cheap engine deal popped up on CL and so the time to buy is when you can.
So here is number two brought home. This time it's a post 1949 block so it would be more desirable to build I think as the integral bell housing is gone by the time these were made.
It's missing the heads which was a drawback but I negotiated a few bucks off the asking price.

I'm really worried now about that rule of three thing. My wallet may not be able to handle a third "good deal".

For storage of this one I used up some scrap lumber and knocked up a basic engine stand so it can be stored easily in the garage.

 

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow,

Three is not a crowd

Regards

 

[rmalkow2]

rmalkow,

Three is not a crowd

Regards

But you have not seen my packed garage with the walls bulging outward. If it ever bursts there will be all manner of tools and car parts spilling into the front yard.

 

[rmalkow2]

rmalkow,

Three is not a crowd

Regards

Ok 1/2 Cup if you say so. I took your comment as permission to bring home a 3rd engine yesterday. It's a parts motor with a cracked block but came with all manifolds, heads, carburetor, fuel pump and glass bowl, starter, pulleys etc. Many accessory parts that are usually missing and would cost money later. So it will help take two or three donors and make one engine someday I hope.

 

[rmalkow2]

I only really did one minor vehicle maintenance job this weekend and that was to replace one of the outer steering rod ends on the Hooptie Van. Got the right side replaced and next will be the left side.

But my other garage activities seemed to have had a backwards effect on Mother Nature. I cleaned out the garage, started up the Mustang and pulled it outside and also put away all snow removal equipment for the season. Guess what I woke up to this morning.

So I take the blame for putting the jinx on spring before it's officially here but I was tired of working around plows and snow blowers that never got used, so I made the executive decision. It's only about 1/2 inch and will melt in a couple days so I don't feel too bad about causing this.

 

[taumac]

But you have not seen my packed garage with the walls bulging outward. If it ever bursts there will be all manner of tools and car parts spilling into the front yard.

LMAO, mine felt the same way. I had a GJ buddy come over and he said "You got stuff in every square inch of space and that pictures really don't show HOW much stuff is actually in here".

So went from 1 engine to 3 engines? LOL. So when you dropping that flathead in? LOL

 

[rmalkow2]

LMAO, mine felt the same way. I had a GJ buddy come over and he said "You got stuff in every square inch of space and that pictures really don't show HOW much stuff is actually in here".

So went from 1 engine to 3 engines? LOL. So when you dropping that flathead in? LOL

Oh definitely do not hold your breath for a running flathead. I'm a long way off from that vision coming true at this point. The first task will be disassembly and cataloging of parts to see if there is enough to make one good one. Then cleanup and machining and lots of other fun. But I guess it beats out other ways of spending time and money.

I do understand the full feeling in the garage. I think I have every square inch filled too.

 

[Vieux]

You have a great set of drills. And they are well organized. I have much less drills.

 

[rmalkow2]

You have a great set of drills. And they are well organized. I have much less drills.

Thank you Vieux, They are almost all second hand to me. Many were inherited from my father and some I have purchased used from local auctions. I can still re-sharpen them when needed so they can have a long useful life.

 

[rmalkow2]

I got inspired by our friend Vieux from Russia as he has been building model kits and showing the progress on his thread. As I do have a number of model kits around that have been waiting to be built I've taken his great example as a reason to build some myself.

I thought I would start out simple and had this British Spitfire model on the shelf. Not sure why I had it but maybe it was left over form my son in his childhood.

Got all the parts out and instructions and quickly realized if I was to do this right I needed a number of model paint colors. I used to have a set of paints but have not seen them for years so if I ever find them they are probably dried up.

So it was off to the store yesterday to stock up on the paint colors needed for this and future models. Tonight I spent some time after work painting small parts by brush and also spraying first coats on the main body parts.

While I was at the store for paints I got side tracked by other models and had to come home with a couple more airplanes. Tonights assembly was pretty easy as this P-51 Mustang was pre-painted and decorated and just needed assembly. Almost too easy for a model kit but I like the finished result.

Thanks for the example set Vieux. I'm looking forward to seeing your car model completed and when I get done with these airplanes I think I'll pull out one of my old car model kits as well.

 

[Vieux]

Great!
The plane looks great. I am very glad that my example was contagious.
My build process of the car is also slowly goes forward. Assembled and painted the engine, frame, wheels and part of salon.

 

[1/2 Cup]

rmalkow and Vieux, you guys are bring back some childhood memories..

 

[rmalkow2]

rmalkow and Vieux, you guys are bring back some childhood memories..

True /2 Cup but as with many things we do as adults we now try to step up the game a bit with more detail and care when assembling with glue. When I was young I do remember being in too much a hurry to complete the model and making mistakes. Hopefully as an old dog I have learned from that.

Vieux, Thanks for checking back here on my progress. I see you've been busy putting that new air brush to work and with very nice results. I may have to get one of those one day.

 

[Vieux]

My model of the car is going.